Automatic undercutting and grooving tool



Sept. 12, 1950 A. A. STAAT l AUTOMATIC UNDERCUTTING AND GROOVING TOOL 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July '1'. 1947 Harm gli? ATTE RN EYB sept. 12, 195oA. A. STAATA AUTOMATIC UNDERCUTTING AND GROOVING TOOL 2 Sheets-Shexet 2Filed July 7, 1947 INV EN TOR.

ATI'D R N EYB Patented Sept. 12, `1.950

AUTOMATIC UNDERCUTTING cRoovING TOOL c Aaron A.v staat, Covington, Ky! yApplication Jiiiyj, 1947,"seria1 Ners'asto 2 claims.

(c1. s252441) fv This invention relates to an automatic undercutting andlgrooving tool.

It is an object of the presentv invention` 'to provide a grooving tooladapted to be' attached to the head of a lathe or screw machine'whichupon making abutment with the end of the work being grooved or undercutkautomatically causes the inward movement ofthe cutters for eiecting theoperation and'whereupon at the end of the Work operation an outwardmovement of the work will release'the cutters and cause their return totheir open positions. f

Otherj objects of the present invention are to provide an automaticundercutting and grooving tool which is of simple construction,inexpensive to manufacture and eiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the :following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of the tool with the cutters about to be extended uponthe work to effect the cutting operation.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the tool.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tool takengenerally on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary and cross-sectional view taken in another planeand on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional View taken on line 5--5 of Fig.1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through theoperating mechanism for the cutters.

v Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through theoperating mechanism and on line 1-1 of Fig. 1. l

Referring now to the figures, I5 represents a spindle adapted to beinserted in a chuck of a lathe or screw machine. This spindle has aprojection I6 of less diameter and providing for a shoulder I1. Withinthe projection I6 is a central opening I8 in which there is extended aprojection I9 of a plug 20 having a tapered surface 2I thereon. Ahead ofthe tapered surface 2| is a cylindrical projection 22 extended into athrust plate 23 engaging with a thrust lbearing 24. Surrounding theprojection I6 and ing 26.y Upon releasing the screw 29 ,the element28'car1 be relieved andthe casting 2li can be removed from theprojection I6 of the spindle. Accordingly the casting 26 is laxiallyadjustable (inthe projection` I6. vWithin the casting are springs 3|abutting ajcollar l32 secured over the o shoulder I1 of .the spindle I5.These springs will urge the` vcasting 2B forwardly as shown in Fig. 1.When `the thrust plate 23engages the end of a workpiece 33, the springs3| will be compressed and .the casting will be ,adjusted rearwardly tothe position shown in Fig. 3.I`

On the front face of the casting 26 are mounted radially adjustabletoolholders 34 which are normally urgedv outwardlyby springs 35. A toolelement or'cutting element 36 is slidable in the tool holders and isadapted to be depressed radially inwardly against the action of spring35 by a. lever 31 pivoted at 38 to the casting 26. On the opposite endof the lever 31 is an adjusting screw 39 adapted to engage outer end ofan operating member 4I within radially extending openings which is movedby the inward movement of the casting and the engagement of theoperating element 4I with the tapered surface 2Il of the plug 20. Acylindrical shield 42 is secured to the collar 32 and extends over theexterior surface of the casting whereby to keep dirt from entering thespace between the casting and the collar 32.

The plug 20 is retained within the projection I6 of the spindle by a setscrew '43. Operating element 4I has a set collar 44 to prevent or limitthe inward displacement of theA operating element 4I. The holders 34 areretained on the casting 26 by bolts 45, Fig. 7. The cutter 36 isretained in the holder by a guide plate 46.

In operation, the thrust plate 23 will engage the end of the work andthe casting will be moved rearwardly on the projection I6. As thishappens the operating elements 4I will be raised upon the taperedportion 2I of the plug and moved outwardly to engage the adjustingscrews 39 on levers 31. The opposite end of the lever 31 will bearagainst the top of the cutter 36 and cause the inward movement of thesame into the work, whereby to cut a groove 48 in the work piece. Thecutters are accordingly moved in- 'wardly automatically as the work isbrought against the thrustplate 23. When the groove 48 has nally beencut, the pressure on the work piece can be released and the cutter 36will be automatically retracted from the work piece. The casting 26 willbe returned to its forward most position by the springs 3I. Theoperating said spindle and mounted for axial adjustmenti thereon,resilient means for urging said casting forwardly of said spindle, means=connected-to said spindle providing a tapered surface,fthere=' being aplurality of radially extending openings arranged in said casting, anoperating element slidably arranged in each of .said-radiallyextend-Ving openings and adapted to frictionally engage said tapered surface forcontrolling the inward and outward movement of said operating elements,meanson the casting forengagingthe end of a work piece to cause theaxialA adjustment of said casting inwardly andthereby cause-movement ofsaid operating elements, a plurality-of cutters pivotally mounted onsaid casting and adapted to engage said work` piece, means operativelyconnecting said-cutters to-said operating elements to cause movement ofsaid cutters as the casting is moved axially on saidspindle, and anadjustingscrew-operatively connected 'to vsaid last named means forengagementwth said-'operating elements for regulating thev cutting depthofthe cutters.

2. In an automatic vun'dercutting and grooving tool, a spindle, acasting operativelyconne'cted'- to 4 said spindle and mounted for axialadjustment thereon, resilient means embodying a plurality of coilsprings for urging said casting forwardly of said spindle, meansembodying a plug connected to said spindle providing a tapered surface,there being a plurality of radially extending openings arranged in saidcasting, an operating element vslidably arranged in each of saidradiallyextend- `zing'openings,and adaptedto frictionally engage said taperedsurface for controlling the inward Vand outward movement of saidoperating elements, meanson said casting for engaging the end :.of.awork`pieceto cause the axial adjustment of said casting inwardly to therebycause movementoffsaid operating elements, a plurality of cutters mounted.on said casting and adapted to engage-said workpiece, means embodyinglevers operatively connecting said cutters to said operating elements tocause movement of said cuttersas the casting ismoved.axiallyonsaidspindle, and an adjusting screw operativelyiconnected to saidlast namedmeans. for engagement with said operatingelements for regulating vvthe cutting depth of Ithe'lcutters.

AARON .A. STAA'I..4

`REFERENCES CTED The followingreferenoes are of record in the le of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name- DateA 739,501 Meyers v vsept. 22,19032,348,186 Bashore May 9, 1944 2,349,159 Freeman 1 May Y16, 1944

